February 2, 2015

Valentine’s Day is not just for humans. This holiday that celebrates love is for animals too. Some of the animals in your local area that could use a bit of love, compassion and attention this Valentine’s Day are the ones in shelters without homes yet. If your wondering how you can help the animals in shelters in a special way this Valentine’s Day the ideas below should help get you off to a good start.Offer Heart Shaped Treats
Valentine’s Day, is the holiday of love. Little hearts help symbolize the holiday. To help treat some of the dogs and cats in the shelter you can bring some heart shaped treats to them. Even if you cannot find heart, shaped dog and cat treats, you could also pick up regular cat and dog treats instead.Pampering the Animals
On Valentine’s Day, some humans enjoy some pampering at a spa to help achieve good looks for a romantic evening with a partner. For cats and dogs, pampering is necessary to for showing love and compassion. Why not, give dogs and cats baths, clip their claws and trim their nails, brush their furry coats and help these animals look sharp to help increase their chances of becoming adopted. Nothing would be better for shelter animals than to find their loving forever home on Valentine’s Day.Create Loving Greeting Cards
Valentine’s Day is all about love and one of the ways you can show love to others as well as to the animals at the shelter is by creating a Valentine’s Day backdrop, taking photos of each animal in the shelter and creating greeting cards. Do not forget to place a loving description of each animal you take a photo of on the back of the greeting card to help increase their chances of adoption. Once the greeting cards are made, mail them out to random people in your local community to get the word out about the animals staying at the shelter. Who knows, maybe you will reach someone’s heart and help an amazing animal get adopted.
End Notes for Valentine’s Fun at the Shelter
Celebrating Valentine’s Day at the shelter is easy, and with the ideas above you should know how to start the day with some fun for the shelter staff, volunteers and the animals temporarily staying there. Just remember, to spread lots of love to those furry pals too.

January 22, 2015

Animals are part of nature. Whichever way you chose to view it, they are part of us and they deserve to be shown affection. Today, very many animals stroll aimlessly on the streets, perhaps in search of a warm permanent place to call home. The good news is, with the contemporary animal adoption trend, many animal lovers are now turning to offsite adoption events to rescue these homeless animals. As charming as offsite adoption sounds, it’s a task that requires great planning and extra effort not to mention a sacrifice of your time. Nonetheless, it’s always worth giving it a shot. Here are some of the few things you should include in your worksheet before getting down to the actual offsite adoption process:1. A comprehensive list of all the volunteers to undertake the task with you- This will help you in keeping a good track of all the people you expect to show up and consequently come up with a way of supervising them depending on the number.2. Ensure you have all the necessary equipment you require for the task- These may include cages and crates among many others. This will assist in easing the transportation of the adopted animals.
3. A comprehensive breakdown of the offsite location- You want to have clear knowledge of the specific region you are going to commence your adoption procedure. Understand all, or at least the better part of, the routes and pathways or any other relevant site you are likely to find a homeless pet.4. A camera- This may sound too obvious but it’s always important to keep a good photography record of the offsite location and all the animals traced and successfully adopted from the site. This will play a significant role in convincing prospective adopters while choosing the pets they want to adopt.
Along with these important tips, it’s absolutely important to ask yourself some few questions before you decide to bring a new pet to your home, especially if you are a personal volunteer. Decide why you want a new pet and settle on adopting the one that best fits your taste and lifestyle. If you are under an organization working with volunteers to adopt homeless animals, keep a good track on the volunteers and this will help you reach out to them easily whenever need arises for such offsite adoption events.

January 21, 2015

Every year several animals are put to death in kill shelters simply due to overpopulation and not enough available loving homes for the unwanted animals. The only way to stop kill shelters from putting animals down is to stop the overpopulation of homeless cats and dogs. If your wondering what you can do to help stop pet over populations the tips below can assist.1. Offer donations to shelters and clinics to help spayed female cats and dogs that need it.2. Offer donations to veterinary clinics and shelters for male kittens and puppies that need neutering.3. Adopting a pet that needs a home can mean less animals on the streets, which means less unnecessary liters being produced.4. Becoming a foster parent for animals in shelters that are overloaded with animals can help provide more room in shelters to help get overpopulated pets off the streets and from producing more unneeded liters.5. Preventing pet overpopulation also begins with you making sure your own pets have been spayed or neutered.6. One of the ways vets can help stop the overpopulation of pets is by offer free spaying and neutering clinics to people who cannot afford to get their pets fixed, but wish to do so to prevent pet overpopulation.7. Animals that are abandoned on the streets need to be rescued and brought to shelters and clinics. The less cats and dogs on the streets the less liters occur and euthanasia.8. Providing more resources to help with the adoption and fostering process can help.9. Donating plenty of food, water, pet care products, bedding and toys to local animal shelters can help the shelters provide for more rescued or abandoned animals, which means a reduction in cat and dog populations.10. Opening your own non-profit shelter or rescue service can help get unwanted cats and dogs off the streets and from producing more liters.11. Volunteering at your local animal shelter can help reduce animal population. Sometimes all shelters need is some extra pairs of hands to help take in more animals.12. Preventing animal hoarding is a huge way to prevent animal overpopulation.13. Creating a non-profit safe drop off spot for unwanted pets can help drastically.14. Prevent the selling of fighting dogs. Once a dog is done fighting it’s put out onto the streets. A particular breed that is often used for fighting is the pitbull.15. Make sure stray cats and dogs are rescued by animal patrol.

January 12, 2015

A newborn kitten that has been abandoned by its mother will need intervention to ensure he or she survives. Proper feeding is one of those critical interventions. Feeding a kitten can be hard work, but it also incredibly rewarding. We’ve laid out the 10 necessary steps of feeding a newborn kitten and exactly what yo’ll need to do it.
What You’ll Need:
• Kitten Milk Replacement Formula
• Kitten-sized bottles & nipples
• A warm towel
Feeding Instructions:
1. All materials should be sterilized before being used to feed a kitten. Experts suggest sterilizing kitten sized baby bottles and nipples (or syringes) in a boiling water bath for about five minutes. Allow them to cool completely before use.
2. Follow the directions on the KMR or emergency formula, for feeding size. It may be necessary to weigh the kitten prior to feeding to ensure it is getting the proper amount of formula. This can be done on a kitchen scale
3. To warm the formula, place the bottle in a hot water bath for a few minutes. Never microwave KMR, as this will cause pockets of hot and cold formula.
4. Before you being feeding, it is best to test the formula on your forearm, just as you would with a baby’s formula. It should feel warm, but not hot.
5. You also should test the nipple to ensure the flow is correct. The nipple should not drip when upside down. It should only drip when gentle pressure is applied.
6. Before you being feeding ensure the kitten is warm and comfortable. Some experts suggest wrapping the kitten in a towel or blanket before feeding.
7. To feed the kitchen place him prone on your lap with his head down. Place the bottle into his mouth, and allow the kitten to nurse. The nursing reflex should kick right in, however, stroking the top of the kitten’s head can help it along.
8. Just like a baby, kittens often need to be burped after feeding. Hold the kitten under the abdomen and lightly tap its back to stimulate a burp.
9. Once burped, the kitten will likely want to sleep, so place it in a warm area, and allow him or her to sleep uninterrupted.
10. Repeat the feedings ever 2 hours or so. For a newborn kitten. Generally, a kitten will require about 1.1 ounces of formula spread out over 9 to 12 feedings.

January 5, 2015

Every day animals are mistreated. One of the ways to help stop all kinds of animal abuse is to get involved with the animal welfare program and do something about it. If you are wondering, what you can do to make a difference in the lives of animals the tips below can provide some insight to help you get started.
#1 Become an Animal Welfare Public Speaker
Stopping the mistreatment of animal’s starts by telling the public about animal welfare along with how the program helps save and protects the lives of animals all over the world. You as a public speaker could share important information about the animals you love and want to protect with schools, special clubs, local neighborhood groups, religious gatherings and special events.
#2 Gather Donation Money for the Animal Welfare Program
One of the best ways to help animal protection programs is to collect donations that will provide the financial support that is necessary. It takes many financial means to take care of animals in need. Animals need shelter, toys, food, water, medicines and veterinary care. Placing canisters in public facilities in your hometown in places such as diners, grocery stores, doctor’s offices and any place that allows the donation canisters goes along ways to gathering that financial means necessary to help improve the lives of animals in need.
#3 Volunteer at a Shelter
Volunteering at a shelter is helpful. You could walk and play with dogs and puppies, snuggle and play with kittens and cats and help keep them well feed and bathed so adoption is possible. You could also help shelters out by becoming a foster parent for pets in need of homes to prevent them from being put down in kill shelters. Every year several loving animals that are well behaved are put down simply because there is not enough room in shelters. Be those animals voices and speak out for them to help save their life and find them a good home.
#4 Help find Affordable Pet Clinics
Pets deserve proper medical care and that includes wellness exams and low cost spayed and neutering procedures to prevent unnecessary litters. If someone you know needs help finding an affordable clinic for their pets, help them find one. You could even offer to pay for a pet visit if the owner is going through financial hardship and wants their pet in good health.

December 7, 2014

Help your local animal shelter to raise funds by suggesting that it holds a fundraiser before the holidays on their premises or at a local arts and crafts fair. The goal is to get families and children who have pets to use some of their planned money to buy gifts to buy some being offered by the shelter for all that it does for homeless animals.
It would be a fun time for all concerned if the fundraiser would be something like:
A dress-up contest with dog and cat pets brought in wearing their finery and offering a prize for the winner.
A booth selling pet items of all kinds (that can be purchased wholesale and sold for a fair but increased price to benefit the shelter). Suggest things such as pet toys, sweaters, tee shirts, pet beds, blankets, leashes, collars, gourmet pet food, and other items that will appeal to buyers.
Have a pet parade with a reasonable fee to enter and encourage the participants to dress up their pet and the wagon, bicycle, or other conveyance that the pet will be riding in.
Have an artist draw paintings of pets with an agreed-upon percentage of the funds being donated to the shelter. The artist could also sell gift cards that could be given to other families for Christmas presents.
Have a photographer who would do the same thing and take pictures of the beloved pets and sell gift cards.
Have a booth selling cards for volunteer work. Older children can offer their services for pet walking, lawn mowing, snow removal, babysitting, running errands, or other such projects.
The Animal Welfare Organization Insurance Program, LLC (AWOIP) is a big advocate of fund raising for animal shelters and rescues and would be happy to work with your local animal welfare organization to produce an insurance protection package that will meet its needs as well as the needs of the animals. AWOIP is also known to stomp on Capital Hill to defend the humane treatment of animals and animal rights in general.

November 10, 2014

There are so many animals that need homes that it seems impossible to have enough animal shelters and rescue clubs. It is also hard for the ones that exist to keep operating if they do not have the funds. Nevertheless, there are options available with grants from various organizations that will help out by providing your non-profit organization a grant. There are plenty of funding that can be found for shelters trying to find homes for animals and wildlife rescues.Bernice Barbour Foundation
This foundation was developed after an animal advocate that aimed to protect animal rights and to improve their lives. Up to $900,000 is given out each year to assist rescue groups and veterinary research institutes along with animal shelters. You can receive health and wellness assistance, veterinary medical assistance and even wildlife rehabilitation through this foundation.Maddies Fund
This grant was named after a miniature Schnauzer who’s care givers wanted to name the foundation after her in support of her love. They aim to help senior pet adoptions and medical treatment for homeless pets in animal shelters. They strive to get the word out by the use of television ads to promote adoption, particularly for older cats and dogs as they tend to be the last adopted.Animal Assistance Foundation
Assistance from this foundation is for non-profit organizations that provide animal care and shelter for animals needing a home. This grant will assist with paying for medical care and getting cats and dogs spayed and neutered. They provide assistance to keep shelters running so that the animals are safe and healthy.
These are just a few of the grants available for animal shelters to make sure that the homeless dogs and cats can see a brighter tomorrow in a loving home. Those funding wildlife rescues provide assistance to give these animals a second chance at life in a safe environment.

November 10, 2014

Raising money for animal welfare organizations in the winter may seem hard to you, but it can actually be done easily and sometimes even be loads of fun. Below are some ideas to help you get started.1. Pet Treat Bake Sale: Hosting a pet treat bake sale for your furry pals inside a facility that is warm and welcoming such as a winter’s farmers market or sporting event where fundraisers are welcome can be a great way to raise the financial means you wish to donate to the animal welfare organization you choose too. Even hosting a bake sale full of sweet treats, people love eating, could work too.2. Ice Skating Party: Do your or someone you know own a pond that freezes over well in the wintertime? If you do, you could host an ice-skating party where you request a small fee to participate in the event. Advertising in a local paper is important for ensuring people come and money is raise for the animal because you wish to donate too.3. Animal Face Paintings: Raising money by doing face paintings at special events such as winter carnivals and festivals, or birthday parties can be fun and rewarding. Children and even adults love a good face painting once in awhile, but make sure the ones you offer are animal ones such as cats, dogs, tigers, birds, reptiles, bears, or fish. After all, you are raising money for an animal welfare organization. Make sure you keep the face painting fees reasonable such as ones between $5 and $7.4. Host a Winter Dance: Hosting a winter event in your local town can be a sweet way to raise money for the animal welfare cause you are donating too. Make sure you choose a fun theme and charge a reasonable fee that people can afford. Make sure you also advertise the event weeks in advance to ensure a good turn out.5. Winter Bonfire Party: Host a winter bonfire party and charge a small fee to get into it. Advertise well and say what kinds of fun will be had at the bonfire event such as smore making and storytelling. Be creative and have fun with this idea.6. Hot Beverage Stand: Serve hot beverages such as coffees, teas, apple ciders and cocoas for a small fee at a stand at a certain event hosted in your local area.

October 30, 2014

Whether your animal rescue or shelter is being affected by funding cuts, lack of donations or an increase in animals to care for, you can shorten the financial gaps by registering your animal shelter or rescue on AmazonSmile. When shoppers visit AmazonSmile instead of the regular Amazon site address, 0.5 percent of their eligible purchases could be donated directly to your organization by the AmazonSmile Foundation.

Shoppers still get the great Amazon products they love. Your animal rescue or shelter receives donations. It’s a win-win situation, so sign up for an Amazon Smile account now!

Is My Shelter or Animal Rescue Eligible?

If your charitable organization is in the United States or the District of Columbia, you may register for Amazon Smile if you’re a 501(c)(3) and in good standing with the IRS. You must follow the Amazon Smile Participation Agreenment and be a public charitable organization. Learn more about eligibility here.How are the Donations Received?

Your organization must receive the donations through electronic transfer. (However, if your organization is not set up for this, Amazon Smile will hold your donations in your account anyway.) Payments are deposited quarterly if donations are $5 or more. Donations less than $5 will be kept in your account until you reach the $5 payout amount in another quarter.Register Your AmazonSmile Account
1. Search for your charitable organization either by name or EIN number. (Pick your correct organization as several organization may have a name like yours!)
2. Create an organization administrator account, then agree to the AmazonSmile Participation Agreement.
3. Verify your email address.
4. Submit your organization’s bank account information.
5. Upload a copy of a voided check or bank statement.

Announce your presence on the AmazonSmile site to the public. Amazon gives you a variety of marketing tools so you can easily place a notice in your newsletter, plaster a pre-made banner on your official website, or make an announcement on your social media accounts. Most offline marketing is prohibited, and there are certain restrictions for different states. Research more about specific marketing restrictions and rules here.
A little effort may be worth great rewards. Sign up for AmazonSmile so shoppers can have the option to donate to your organization day or night, seven days a week.

October 1, 2014

The holidays are almost upon us and this is a time for animal shelter fundraisers to start. Many people are interested in increasing their giving over the holidays, as well as making donations in a loved one’s name. You’ll want to take advantage of creative ideas to help bring in some extra donations.
Host a holiday party with a twist – invite everyone to come and bring their dog. Make sure there are plenty of treats for both people and pets. Ask everyone to make a donation when they arrive at the location. Consider offering a silent auction where you can raise additional funds, or having a raffle for some type of pet products and services. Examples include a visit to a local groomer or an expensive pet bed.
Set aside a day when people can have their pets’ and kids’ portraits taken with Santa Claus. This is a better alternative to going to the mall, where pets are not typically welcome. Make sure the portrait area looks festive so that the pictures look great. Offer the portraits in different sizes and formats, such as online slideshows and holiday cards. One of the advantages of this option is that anyone who comes to visit Santa with their kids might get ideas about finding a new addition to their family.
Have a pet-themed craft fundraiser. Chances are that some of your shelter’s staff, volunteers and donors have craft skills. This is one of the more effective animal shelter fundraisers because everyone looks forward to the possibility of being able to buy handcrafted items as gifts. You might even consider allowing people to place orders through your shelter’s Facebook page.
If local merchants do a holiday open house event, consider setting up a table or booth where you can serve concessions. Hot apple cider, cocoa and cookies are great choices. In situations where pets are allowed in outdoor areas, consider offering some dog treats as an option.
Put together and sell holiday baskets for pet owners. This might contain treats, grooming aids, toys and whatever else you think is useful. You might also combine items for pets with holiday treats for the owners to enjoy, such as candy, pastries, cheese or sausage.